Photo by Michael Norris
The U.S. Army Band’s Army Blues jazz ensemble rehearses “I’ll Never Smile Again” in Brucker Hall’s Minor Studio in preparation for a Black History Month concert at the Atlas Theater in the District.
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Army Blues to play D.C.’s Atlas Theater
In conjunction with the Library of Congress, The U.S. Army Band’s Army Blues jazz ensemble will perform big band arrangements originally written for Ella Fitzgerald at the Atlas Theater in Northeast Washington, D.C., Feb. 4.
The Black History Month program, which utilizes musical charts by such well-known 1950s and 60s era arrangers as Marty Paich, Bill Holman and Tommy Newsom, will feature familiar songs from Fitzgerald’s catalog, including the Duke Ellington classic “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” a musical version of the nursery rhyme “A-Tisket, A-Tasket,” and the Sam Coslow composition “Mr. Paganini.”
Blues guitarist Sgt. Maj. James Roberts visited the Library of Congress to sift through boxes of sheet music from the Fitzgerald archive, which was donated to the institution in 1997 through a trust set up in the artist’s name. Fitzgerald, often referred to as the “First Lady of Song,” was known for her impressive vocal range, impeccable diction and horn-like improvisational ability with wordless scat vocals. She died in 1996.
Members of the Blues had previously delved into the Library of Congress collection in late 2010 to examine the arrangements of composer and baritone saxophone player Gerry Mulligan, who was featured in a Blues tribute concert last year.
According to Anne McLean, senior concert producer for the Library of Congress, the library’s music division houses 22 million musical items. These include personal letters, photographs, concert programs and rare musical instruments. The collection has artifacts like George Gershwin’s piano, Niccolo Paganini’s diary and Rachmaninov’s desk, as well as the original sheet music from composers like Aaron Copeland, Irving Berlin and Leonard Bernstein, to name just a few. The collection isn’t just available to musical scholars. Most items can be viewed by the public.
“I love playing the music,” said saxophone player Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Henson, who said he has an affinity for that particular period of jazz. “It’s historic but there’s nothing old fashioned about it. You feel privileged that you can get that close to musical history and jazz. It’s exciting. These guys would be happy to know their music is still being played and appreciated.”
“It’s a breath of fresh air,” said bassist Staff Sgt. Regan Brough of the arrangements. “We’re glad to collaborate with the Library of Congress. Music doesn’t do any good sitting in the archives.”
One of the songs the Blues will play in the program is a Billy Byers arrangement of composer Ruth Lowe’s “I’ll Never Smile Again.” Brough remembers trying to transcribe the piece off a record years ago. As he relates the story he begins humming the tune while snapping his fingers to the beat. “It’s a walking ballad,” he explains, feeling the groove. “It’s just beautiful in its simplicity.”
In rehearsals, the Blues worked from photocopies of the original sheet music, which sometimes still displayed evidence of the mid-century arrangers’ craftsmanship and toil. There might be a coffee stain on one page while handwritten notations filled the margin of another.
In one composition, Brough related enthusiastically, “The fifth trumpet part wasn’t just labeled ‘fifth trumpet.’ It was labeled ‘Roy,’ for Roy Eldridge.” Eldridge, a celebrated trumpet player from the era, is probably best known for his work as a Duke Ellington sideman.
Roberts said the Blues sorted through an eight-page catalog of Fitzgerald arrangements at the Library of Congress in making selections for the concert. He said it was interesting to examine the sheet music of the various arrangers. Some arrangements had crossed out portions and scribbles while others were crisp and clean.
Byers arrangements, Roberts said, “didn’t have anything scratched out. He knew exactly what he wanted.”
The old arrangements for the concert don’t need any embellishment to meet contemporary standards, he said, “They’re just right the way they are. “
Sgt. 1st Class Christal Rheams, an alto with the Army Band’s Downrange group, will fill Ella’s pumps for the performance. The daughter of a classical music artist, Rheams said she grew up with Esther Phillips, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald playing in the home.
“They’re big shoes to fill,” said Rheams of Fitzgerald. “Her pitch was always tremendous. She liked to play around with the music. No one else is like her. I’m working as hard as I can to do her justice.”
Rheams said her favorite song in the program is probably “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most,” which she said she liked because of its contrasts. She described it as “a light-hearted topic with a haunting melody.”
Rheams will also be performing “A-Tisket, A-Tasket,” which she has sung before in other venues. Fitzgerald is remembered for singing the song in the Abbott and Costello movie “Ride ‘em Cowboy,” which was the singer’s film debut.
While the concert has been in the planning stages for many months, one addition to the concert, “At Last,” was added recently after the passing of Etta James two weeks ago.
The Feb. 5 concert at the Atlas will take place at 8 p.m. Library of Congress concerts are free but sometimes require a service charge from the private ticket distributor. At press time, tickets were still available, and can be obtained by calling 202-707-8432, or by visiting the library’s website at www.loc.gov. The concert will be reprised Feb. 12 on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall at 3 p.m. in Brucker Hall, home of The U.S. Army Band.
The U.S. Army Band is also scheduled to perform at the Library of Congress’ Coolidge Auditorium May 5 in a program entitled “American Mavericks,” which will feature the music of Charles Ives, Henry Cowell and others. Check the Library of Congress’s website for additional information.